Medical learning zone
Knowing about the human body and the conditions that can affect it can be a big help for advisers. Armed with this information, you'll be able to better understand any conditions your clients have and complete their application forms more accurately.
- Brush up your knowledge of a particular area of the body and the medical conditions that affect it.
- Once you're ready, take the test to find out how much you know – and gain a certificate for your records
Test your medical knowledge
- Gain a certificate for your personal records. (non-accredited.)
- No registration necessary.
- Highlights any areas for improvement
Brush up your knowledge
The information sheets below tell you more about a particular area of the body or any other factors. Each PDF link opens in a new window.
| Information Sheet | Description | Key areas/conditions covered |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol (PDF 78.1kb) | The amount of alcohol a person drinks can affect how we handle their protection application. | Effects of excessive drinking; implications for life, critical illness and income protection insurance. |
| Build (PDF 126kb) | A person's body size, muscle mass and body fat can have a significant bearing on the conditions to which they're susceptible. | Body mass index (BMI), obesity, underweight. |
| Central Nervous System (PDF 100kb) | Includes the brain and spinal cord. | Epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, shingles, spinal injuries. |
| Digestive System (PDF 156kb) | The digestive tract runs from the mouth to the anus. | Cirrhosis of the liver, cholecystitis, Crohn's disease, haemorrhoids, hepatitis, hernia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), peptic ulceration, ulcerative colitis. |
| Drugs (PDF 41.6kb) | The different types of drugs available, and the implications of drug abuse for protection applications. | Risks of drug abuse; types of drugs; implications for life, critical illness and income protection insurance. |
| Endocrine System (PDF 387kb) | Consists of glands that control the body's activities. | Hyperthyroidism, diabetes. |
| Mental Illness (PDF 46.3kb) | Mental disorders cause a person's mind to become disturbed, and can vary greatly in their severity. | Psychoneurosis, psychosis, manic depression, schizophrenia. |
| Musculoskeletal System (PDF 127kb) | Provides form, stability and the ability to move. Can be affected by conditions including knee disorders and osteoporosis. | Arthritis, back pain, cervical spondylosis, hip disorders, knee disorders, lumbar stenosis, osteoporosis, shoulder disorders, whiplash. |
| Respiratory System (PDF 1.1Mb) | Supplies the body with oxygen and eliminates carbon dioxide waste. | Asthma, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, pneumonconiosis, pneumonia. |
| Smoking (PDF 41.6kb) | The detrimental affects of smoking are well known, so it's important to disclose correct smoker-status information. | Smoking facts; health implications; implications for life, critical illness and income protection insurance. |
| Tumours (PDF 120kb) | An abnormal mass of tissue which grows at a different rate to the tissues around it. Can be cancerous. | Malignant tumours (cancer or carcinoma), benign tumours. |
| Financial Underwriting (PDF 38.6kb) | A brief description of financial underwriting and why we need to do it. | |
| Residence and Travel (PDF 40.5kb) | An explanation of why we ask about foreign travel and residence in protection applications. | |